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You may have read about them in Bloomberg or on other mainstream news sites. You may have heard business schools grumbling about it devaluing the nomenclature (“They’re not REAL MBAs!”). But like it or loathe it, the mini-MBA monicker is here to stay, and so is the certificate, although how it is earned (and how much it’ll set you back) has evolved over the years.

There are a few different theories as to the origins of the mini-MBA. MBA boot offered by consulting companies such as McKinsey & Co. and Booz Allen Hamilton on business essentials may have been taken over by universities — others claim they can be traced back to McGill University in the late 1940s.

In either case, the mini-MBA as we know and love it today comes in three basic flavors.

1. The online superMOOC. Forget networking, late night commuting and CE credits. Some people just need a basic grounding in business practices and terminology, either for their own startups or because of a recent promotion. UNC Kenan-Flagler has you covered, as do many other schools that have chosen to offer relatively inexpensive online certifications. These can last up to eight weeks, but the work is done remotely and the lectures are all online.

2. The in-person crash course. This was the original concept for the mini-MBA — a one-week crash course (or possibly up to three or four) which would allow middle managers to network, gain vital skills and terminology, and become better leaders at their respective companies. Rutgers owns this type of mini, with over 18 offerings (although it has online offerings too), but there are many, many options here.

3. The elite pre-eMBA. Schools like Columbia and Kellogg have studiously eschewed the mini-MBA monicker in favor of more sonorous titles like “Essentials of Management”. The price of these programs is truly eye-popping — from $24,000 up to $48,000 for a few weeks — but they do offer lodging and (some) meals, as well as the confidence in knowing the guy sitting next to you in the classroom has scratch to spare. Many students use these type of programs to evaluate a school’s eMBA offerings and decide if they’re interested in an even bigger commitment somewhere down the line.

THE TOP TEN OFFERINGS

UNC Business Essentials
Cost: $2,500
Highlights: Offered by an elite B-schools, available online only, and affordable. Each of the six UNC Business Essentials modules takes an average of 10-12 hours to complete. The entire program can be completed in 4 months if an individual spends 4-5 hours a week on coursework. Includes certificate.
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Buffalo Online Mini-MBA
Cost: $995
Highlights: Price, price, price. Under $1000 for 17 credits and a certificate makes this the best deal of the bunch, by a country mile, if you don’t need a name brand school.
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University of St. Thomas, Mini-MBA
Cost: $2,995
Highlights: One of the original mini-MBA programs, available onsite in Minneapolis and online, affordable
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Rutgers, Mini MBA
Cost: $4,995
Highlights: Available onsite in New Jersey and online, several specialization available, including digital media and biopharma. Lasts 1 week. Includes a certificate and CE credits.
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Ross University Executive Certificate
Cost: TBD
Highlights: Another very solid school, with a slightly unusual piecemeal offering — you choose four credits that then become one certificate.
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McKinsey Mini-MBA
Cost: TBD
Highlights: There are a few certificate offerings out there NOT from schools — McKinsey’s is one of the most interesting, since the company has had training programs like this for many years. 3 weeks in person combine with 4-8 weeks of ‘pre-work’, making this a fairly significant time commitment.
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